Lewis Hamilton wants to stick it to Ferrari by winning titles

Four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said that his primary goal is to achieve record-breaking success over the next few years with Mercedes.

Hamilton has already achieved massive success with Mercedes, as he’s taken home four constructors’ titles in the last four years in addition to three drivers’ titles in the same span. He also won a title back in 2008 with McLaren. While his contract with Mercedes is set to expire after the 2018 season, he has given no word whatsoever regarding a potential departure heading into next year.

The two sides were expected to announce a new contract extension at the start of the season, but that time came and went with no further news. That said, Hamilton has made it clear that he has no plans of leaving to race for anyone other than Mercedes in the future.

Hamilton and Mercedes have some ground to make up if they are to win a fourth drivers’ title this season. Hamilton is currently nine points adrift of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, though Mercedes do have a one-point edge on Ferrari in the constructors’ race. While the gap is small, if you research different betting sites you’ll see that Mercedes are still the odds-on favorites to make it five straight constructors’ titles.

Hamilton spoke with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he said, “My hope for the future is that we continue – continue to grow, excel and always move forwards. Obviously, I hope to build our relationship. But I really want to take this team the furthest it has ever been. I want to be a part of this journey where Mercedes are the most successful Formula One team in history.”

Hamilton’s goals are understandably lofty, but simple math indicates that it is highly unlikely that the 33-year-old will be able to carry Mercedes past the best F1 team in history, Ferrari. Mercedes have 76 all-time wins compared to 231 for Ferrari. Mercedes’ four constructors’ titles also pale in comparison to Ferrari’s 16.

While all-time history may be a bit out of reach, Hamilton and Mercedes can come close to bettering Ferrari in a different way by winning another title this year. If they are able to win a fifth straight constructors’ title this season, Mercedes will come to within one title of Ferrari’s record of six straight titles between 1999 and 2004.

Hamilton added, “I want to push it as far as I can, with the lifespan as a driver that I have, that it would take a long, long time for anyone else to catch up. I think it would really upset the red cars and the red team, so that’s my goal.”

Wolff added that the recent success is just the beginning for what Mercedes hopes to accomplish in F1. He said, “We have started to set the wheels in motion over the last four years. I take so much pleasure in working with you and the team in general that there is no other place I would want to be.”

The boss added, “I take enjoyment in being at the factory, walking around. Even at the races, where there is a lot of pressure, it’s a good place to be.

“I think we can build something that, if we were to look back in 20 or 30 years, we could say we have been part of the Silver Arrows era and of a Mercedes era in Formula One that was the most successful.

“Working for such a brand and with such a brand is something you don’t get the opportunity to do very often. We have just started.”